NIU to give each students a ticket to Orange Bowl

First ever MAC team to go to BCS Bowl

Published On: Dec 04 2012 07:29:52 AM CST

DEKALB, Ill. -

Northern Illinois students attending the Orange Bowl won't have to pay admission.

The school says it is giving each student one free ticket for the game against Florida State on Jan. 1, hoping to lure Huskies fans to Miami for the first BCS game in the program's history and the first ever by a Mid-American Conference team. NIU's enrollment is 23,850.

The Huskies found out they were going Sunday after finishing 12-1 and winning their second straight MAC championship. Rod Carey, who served as offensive coordinator the past 12 games and has been the line coach for two years, will make his head coaching debut. He replaces Dave Doeren, who took the North Carolina State job.

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